Working with ICE agents, OPD and MCSO focus on two local areas

Local law enforcement and federal immigration officials on Friday detained several people in an operation targeting two areas of Marion County.

By Austin L. MillerStaff writer

Local law enforcement and federal immigration officials on Friday detained several people in an operation targeting two areas of Marion County in which residents had complained of criminal activity and police previously had observed immigrants who apparently were in the country without authorization.

Officials said six people were arrested on minor offenses, including three with detainers from U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement agents. Seven were given notices to appear for deportation hearings.

The Ocala Police Department Special Deployment Unit, the Marion County Sheriff's Office Tactical Investigations Unit and federal ICE agents were involved in the operation the in the vicinity of West State Road 40 and Interstate 75 and in the vicinity of Southwest 38th Avenue and Southwest 20th Street.

Officials said they were targeting all traffic and criminal violations in the areas.

The operation was in response to complaints OPD had received from residents and business owners about criminal activity. Officials also said some of the people they have encountered in those areas are immigrants in the U.S. without authorization.

Recently, drug agents arrested eight people — four on prostitution charges and four on charges of possession of drug paraphernalia — in the 3600 block of West State Road 40.

Roving in unmarked vehicles on Friday, officials looked for traffic violators and, upon seeing the infractions, stopped the drivers. In some instances, officials also made contact with people who were not driving.

Officials said that if anyone was in the country illegally, that person was turned over to ICE agents. Otherwise, officials concentrated on local violations.

The operation began Friday afternoon and was concluded late Friday night or early Saturday morning.

Of the 13 people detained, six were arrested on various charges, and half of those six were issued detainers by ICE agents. The remaining seven were issued notices to appear by ICE agents to report for a deportation hearing.

Those arrested included one felony case. Elias Vasquez Tapia, 34, was wanted on felony warrant out of Volusia County.

OPD Sgt. Eric Hooper said officials were stopping anyone who committed a traffic violation. Sheriff's Capt. James Pogue said the operation was not targeting people on immigration violations and did not reflect a change in his agency's policy or approach.